I think it was Spurf who made the point earlier that our biggest problem is that we had totally the wrong manager in the dugout for the past 20 months. I tend to agree with that. I certainly don't think we've seen even nearly the best of this group of players. So many of them were either utilised poorly or had their confidence shot to pieces by our very very very Special former manager. I also don't think we need to bring in more than 3-4 players in order to really start turning things around: RB CB Backup ST + 1 to replace potential multiple departures from similar positions e.g. if Lamela and Lucas both leave I'd look to bring in another wide attacker. I do have faith that Rodon, Reguilon, Hojbjerg and Bergwijn will all improve under Nuno. And even though his bar is very low, so will Doherty in all likelihood. Then with Skipp and Sess coming in to augment the squad things don't look as dire as they did when i was contemplating having to endure a 3rd season under Maureen. What I'm more concerned about is lack of outgoings. We have so many players who have long hit their ceiling here including and in addition to a bunch entering the final year of their contract. They need to go.
I remember watching live footage of a battle between police and scum outside The Earl of Chatham. That pub's got a lovely period frontage. Thankfully it survived! please log in to view this image I was in there the night that BMJ was sacked, watching a mate's band play. Not cheap but if you're watching live music...
I don't even think it was that rough pre riots to be honest. Nowadays though the whole area is getting proper gentrified and the town has changed so much. Yeah its appalling the stabbing of that boy (do you know what thats about?) And there's been a few incidents over the years but where in London is it incident free. I swear you get more things happening in west london than you do here
Don't really go to pubs much but when I watch footie in woolwich I go there. Used to go there a lot in the 80s and 90s. Was always a decent pub...unlike some of the dives in woolwich at the time!
Have always lived in the area...think most places are seen worse when you don't live there...except Erith...that's a ****hole no matter where you live
I lived on the Harrow Road for years before I left London last year and bits of it could definitely get a bit sketchy. Carnival of course too, I was right by the outer cordon at Westbourne Park so always tons of police. Never saw a lot of trouble at Carnival myself mind, but I have friends living near Latimer Road station and they’re dead set on moving out now they have a kid because they’re right in the thick of it.
Fab thinks this is a go-er. Interesting ambiguous language there, could Hugo be off this summer? Loan with a buy option is a smart financial move given hopefully the financial situation will be better next year with (fingers crossed) a whole year of fan revenue from the stadium. Fab also reporting that we bid for Tomiyasu and the player is tempted, but the tone very much seems to be that both we, Bologna and the player will wait until after the Olympics. I’m not sure he’s a starter anyway so it would be good to get the starting CB through the door in the meantime. I wonder if we’ll go back to Atalanta for Romero, as has been reported?
He's not going to be cheap. There are suggestions that we've offered Davinson Sanchez in p/ex. Otherwise, I'm struggling to see where the money's coming from for such a player... ...unless the Kane rumours are true.
The Dave one makes most sense as we reportedly already offered him as part of a Kounde deal. Everything’s gone very quiet on Kane, Nuno shut it down hard in his presser and there’s been nothing concrete in the press, only rumours that barely bear credence. Maybe it’ll pick up in earnest when he’s back from his holidays. But for a CB, it makes most sense that we’re trying to offload Dave as part of a deal, IMO.
Sanchez isn't the answer to our defensive problems. He's got so many mistakes in him that it's impossible to see him being a fixed part in the defence of a top notch PL team. He's a nice bloke but he joins the list of players that we got severely skinned on. If we can use him to land someone who can actually defend, it'd be close to a miracle.
Gollini and Romero in and Lloris and Sanchez out would be welcomed by me. The outgoings need to be substantial this summer. I’d also happily see the back of Aurier, Sissoko, Winks, Toby and Dier. I’d also not be upset if Lo Celso and/or Ndombele left either but I think Nuno will give them a chance. Just realised that’s 9 players I’ve listed there and that’s not mentioning that I don’t rate Ben Davies or Matt Doherty either and haven’t mentioned Dele who hasn’t been good for 3 years Just the 12 duds then
I'd imagine the priority will be bringing in some cash for the players who will otherwise leave for free next year, which includes: Lloris (although tbh he's worth keeping for a year), Aurier, Lamela and Sissoko. Beyond them, contract lengths of our weaker players make it very difficult to see any serious buyers showing interest at a price worth considering. I.e. it might be wiser to gamble on them having a better season under Nuno and being worth significantly more next year. Of the bunch many want gone, Dier will be the hardest to shift due to his age, contract length and (ridiculous) lack of home grown status. Winks, Alli and Sanchez will be easier due to their age and/or HG status, but tbh of those 3 I can't see us selling Dele unless an improbably high bid comes in. Levy will be clinging to the hope that a(nother) new manager can reignite the old Dele and suddenly we have a £70m asset on our books again. There's also claims that Toby wants out but unless he's willing to take a hefty pay cut, that is unlikely. Lamela, Aurier, Sissoko, Winks, Sanchez, Foyth and Toby out in one window to my mind is an enormous task and if we do it, represents excellent progress. I reckon we could recoup circa £90m-100m from selling the above, which isn't great but can fund the purchase of 2 top players.
I would be happy with Romero, from the little I have seen I like the look of him (admittedly Youtube only shows the good bits), I am not sure on Gollini though, somebody posted some snippets on Twitter of him going to ground too early and looking dodgy on long range shots, that deal does not scream top class and will more than likely be a downgrade on Hugo.
I’m starting to think Dier and Winks will stay as squad players. Winks apparently wants to stay if he’s going to get to play a bit and he’s contracted until 2024 so the list of clubs who will look at him is probably quite short, though I think we’d sell him if the right bid came in. Sissoko more likely to leave IMO as he’s only got a year left and I think there’s probably more interest in him. Dier is also contracted to 2024 and given the lack of interest in him, and that Toby wants to leave and we’re already touting Dave around, I just don’t see him going.
I cannot see a single club being interested in Dier. Truly awful player with an equally awful attitude who - at 27 - is supposedly at his 'peak'. If this is his peak, I shudder to think what he'll be like when he starts to decline. Everyone laughed at me 3 years ago when I said we should bite United's hand off for £50m. Even though my prediction that Sanchez would be 'the next Ledley' was somewhat wide of the mark , I read Dier like a children's book.
The fact that I am putting counter opinions to these Levy out views is showing that I respect they exist and consider they are important enough to be countered. To call my view facile and ridiculous is surely going further along the road of disrespect than I have. Your argument that Levy should go falters because there is no way of controlling who takes over and with what agenda. IMO that is just throwing Spurs to the wolves. It's my party and I'll cry if I want to never wins me to anything. Simply if you are going to make such demands then expect to be challenged.
Impossible to clear out those 12 and get in replacements and expect them to gel into a team in 1 window. Whilst I agree with most of your outs I agree with CK that if we can get those you mentioned first out of the door that will be a good start. Davies is still our best LB from a defensive stand point and Nuno may think that he can get the best out of Doherty. Dele has become something of an enigma I would love for the old Dele to reappear but I think he needs a move if only a temporary one to focus his mind. A loan spell overseas maybe the best option with him. Levy won't be prepared to take the huge loss that selling Ndombele or Lo Celso would cause, therefore they will stay and probably be fighting for the same place much as they were last season, Ndombele should have the advantage of being at training from day 1, but long term if he can stay fit (I know that is a big if!) I still think Lo Celso has more chance of being a success.
